Community pharmacy must step up its image to be seen as more professional, C+D Senators have warned. 

Speaking at C+D's Business Senate on September 21, Andrew McCoig, secretary of Croydon and Sutton, Merton & Wandsworth LPCs, argued there were too many "scruffy" premises and pharmacists, while other Senators warned that customers were expecting increasingly high standards of service.

The comments came as the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) warned that pharmacies that fail to meet its premises standards could face closure.

"We've got pharmacists on TV wearing jumpers – they look like they've taken the dog for a walk, quite frankly" Andrew McCoig, Croydon and Sutton, Merton & Wandsworth LPCs

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Mr McCoig said that community pharmacy must tackle a lack of professional image for the public to take it seriously. "We've still got far too many scruffy premises. We've got pharmacists on TV wearing jumpers – they look like they've taken the dog for a walk, quite frankly," Mr McCoig told the Senate. He added that there should be a stronger focus on "professional areas" in pharmacy premises, with less space dedicated to retail.

The comments were backed by fellow Senator and Day Lewis regional manager Jay Patel, who called for a change in the way pharmacies were run and laid out. "If you don't have a consultation room, get one," he advised. "You don't need to spend a significant amount of money doing that. It can simply be a soundproof room."

Brokerage and advisory group Christie+Co head of pharmacy Tony Evans warned that the public had increasingly high expectations of service providers. "People expect a stronger service," he argued.

"I'm not saying they're not getting that, but... if you look at the convenience market, that has had to adapt itself so it is offering something that the public actually wants, and I agree with you that people need to invest in premises and provide a more professional identity for their businesses."